Gray is the new beige. Though don’t call it “greige,” like it’s some cutesy neutral du jour.

As color expert Kate Smith explains, over the past decade or so, the design industry and the public have grown to love complex colors, colors that are hard to describe — such as the manifold shades of gray.

And, she says, “once you start to appreciate and understand these complex colors, there’s no going back.”

We can trace interest in gray’s versatility back even a few more decades, to the late 1940s and ’50s fashion designs of Christian Dior, who used dove-gray paint and furnishings in his salons as a way to set off his colorful fashions. Benjamin Moore even named a paint color after his obsession: Dior Gray.

But gray’s value goes beyond paint. Smith says gray’s versatility means it can be used to freshen any color scheme.

“There are a few things interesting about gray as an accessory. You can bring in gray without bringing in any other colors,” she says. Being a true neutral, “it also helps you notice the shape and the texture and the surface of furniture and accessories.”

To add just a touch of silvery sophistication to a room or two, here are some home and design finds:

Gray is a chameleon-like color. Not only can it be warm or cool but it also can be Colonial, Federal or midcentury modern. “I’m very partial to using French, Swedish and Gustavian antiques, and the underlying color is a gray,” says designer Paul Corrie. For an antique look at a new-product price, try Wisteria’s mango-wood Swedish table ($265, wisteria.com). If a more elegant Parisian feel is your preference, Corrie recommends incorporating black-and-white stripes and gilded furniture.

Gray can also be masculine or feminine. Stripes in gray and white (as with Ikea’s Bjornloka Duvet Cover and Pillowcase, $30-$50, ikea.com), or pinstripes (as with West Elm’s Flannel Sheet Set, $29-$119, westelm.com) can set a sporty, menswear-inspired tone.

For a soft, feminine touch, try Anthropologie’s Perpetual Blooms Towel in light gray ($8-$36, anthropologie.com). “Gray can be really introspective; it can be calming,” Smith says. “It seems sort of ephemeral. It can feel light and airy and almost like it’s fleeting.”

Gray will work with any scheme, as long as you match cool tones with cool tones and warm tones with warm tones. “If you go into the cooler tones, there are shades of blue and lilac and lavender or as intense as eggplant that are gorgeous with gray,” Corrie suggests. “With a warmer direction, you can give it a touch of terra cotta or accents of yellow — not a mustard yellow, but just a soft yellow.” West Elm’s Pad Printed Bowls do a little bit of color pairing for you, with gray-and-yellow and gray-and-blue options ($8, westelm.com).

“We used to say every room needs a bit of black, but there’s an idea, too, that every room can be updated with a bit of gray,” Smith says. “It’s a beautiful color. It can update a room and you don’t have to change anything — you can just update your pillows.” Or, just as easily, throw the Shell Bath Mat by Thomas Paul into a bathroom for a quick freshening up ($44, 2modern.com). “There’s really no end to how you can work with gray in your home,” Smith says.

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